Friday, July 17, 2009

PUBLIC TRANSPORT FARE INCREASE – JUSTIFIED OR OTHERWISE?

Why is it that it has to be the ‘bigger crook’ Nazri Aziz to make the announcement on the increase in the public transport fare now, at a time when the economy is not doing well, and his public image over his description of Tun Dr. Mahathir, Tun Hanif Omar and Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman, as crooks is hotly being debated? Is it not the Transport Minister or the Domestic Affairs Minister to be making such an announcement? And there goes the ‘Rakyat di dahulukan’ slogan, or is it ‘Rakyat di kemudiankan’.

Who would really want to listen to such a statement from this uncouth minister who is only good as a cheer leader. At least, cheer leaders looks pleasing with their multicoloured dresses and dancing to the rhythm of some raunchy music. This bigger crook has none to please anyone.

I listened to the news last night, and there were clearly parties that are happy, and others that are not to pleased with the public transport fare increase. The increase is quite high. Even OKU’s and senior citizens like me is not spared. They now have to pay more i.e. 75% of the total fare as oppose to only 50% now. What is rational for increasing the fares for OKU’s and senior citizens is mind blogging. Are such groups categorized as productive wage earners having the capacity to earn thousands every month?

A friend of mine who travels to work daily by bus from Seremban to Kuala Lumpur says that he will now have to cough out RM 15.60 for a return trip or RM 312.00 per month. I think, this is about the costliest bus fare in the region, and once again, in runs counter to the slogan ‘Rakyat di dahulukan’?

Owners of public transport companies are the most to benefit, and it is the larger section of the public that suffers. I am not against an increase, but the timing is certainly not right. I just wonder whether ministers will also suffer from this fare increase.

5 comments:

We have to give credit to the British Military for laying the correct foundation for our MAF.

The British Military had passed to us invaluable knowledge about organizing national defence, management of war economy, mobilization of the population for war, military diplomacy etc.

Our military organizations, tactics, training, logistics and the relationship between officers and men are based on British military experience which they have acquired from their long military history.

There are many good British military values which the MAF had inherited and adopted for the benefit of the Nation and citizens, such as respecting the Constitution and the Laws, loyal to King and Country, supporting the Government of the day etc..etc.

However, this does not mean we should use the English language as the main medium of communication in the MAF.Instead, strong emphasis should be given to making Bahasa Malaysia as the main language of military knowledge in the MAF.

This of course does mean we should prevent our officers and men from being proficient in the English language.The MAF can easily facilitate its mastery through the many established language institutions existing in the country.

You are totally wrong to say that the MAF does not send its officers and men to further their education including learning English and other languages.

Many officers and rank and file acquired graduate and post graduate degress, attending full time course at various universities, fully sponsored by the MAF.

About funding is not an issue because attending courses and learning language(s) comes under the Operational Expenditure (OE) Budget which has to be made available by the Government on annual basis to the MAF.Buying capaital equipment like the replacement for the NURI of course come under the Development Expenditure (DE) Budget which can stopped by the government when there is insufficient funds.

Appreciate if we could share your thoughts why Bahasa Malaysia could not be language of military knowledge and communication in the MAF.